Arches National Park
Arches National Park in eastern Utah is known for red sandstone arches, fins and balanced rocks, most of them reached by short trails from the park road.
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Arches National Park is in eastern Utah, about 5 miles north of Moab. The park protects more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, along with fins, spires and balanced rocks that wind and water carved from the rock. Many of the main sights sit a short walk from the park road. Delicate Arch, a freestanding arch that appears on Utah license plates, is the park's best-known landmark.
Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for hiking, because daytime temperatures are mild. Summer is very hot and most trails have little shade, so early morning or late afternoon works best then. Plan at least one full day for the main viewpoints and the Delicate Arch trail, which is about 3 miles round trip. A second day suits longer hikes. Moab, the nearest town, is the usual base for lodging and meals.
Arches National Park in five
- Skip the timed-entry hunt, but arrive earlyArches dropped timed entry for 2026, so you can drive in during operating hours, though cars may be redirected when it is crowded. Delicate Arch and Windows parking fill first in spring and summer.
- Treat Delicate Arch as a real hikeAbout 5 km return, almost no shade and a steep slickrock climb at the end. Carry water and start at sunrise or after mid-afternoon in summer.
- Book Fiery Furnace aheadEnter the maze on a self-guided permit or a ranger-led walk. Both need advance reservations, and neither is available at the gate.
- Base yourself in MoabThe park entrance is about 10 minutes north of town, which has the rooms, fuel and restaurants. Spring and fall weekends fill early.Moab travel guide
- Pair Arches with the rest of UtahArches sits at the east end of the national park loop, a long day's drive from Zion. Plan the whole route before you pick a base.Utah national parks
Things to do in Arches National Park
See all attractions in Arches National Park
Need to know
- Nearest airports
- Canyonlands Regional (CNY) near Moab, or Salt Lake City (SLC), about 4 hours
- Entry
- No timed entry in 2026; Fiery Furnace needs a permit Read more
- Best base
- Moab
- Heat
- Summer highs often 36–38 °C
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-5°Cold, quietJanuaryClear
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryClear3 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low-2°Cold, light snowFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, light snow
- MarchClear5 rainy daysHigh14°Low2°Mild, spring breakMarchClear
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring break
- AprilClear2 rainy daysHigh20°Low6°Mild, busyAprilClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, busy
- MayClear2 rainy daysHigh25°Low12°Warm, busyMayClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh32°Low18°Hot, start at dawnJuneClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, start at dawn
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh36°Low22°Very hotJulyClear
Poor
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh34°Low20°Hot, stormsAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low15°Warm, easingSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easing
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh19°Low7°Mild, fall lightOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, fall light
- NovemberClear2 rainy daysHigh11°Low1°Cool, quietNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low-4°Cold, quietDecemberClear
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Moab, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Arches National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 48%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 55%
Arches National Park
01:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°5°55%Monday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Tue11°3°1%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Wed12°6°14%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Thu12°5°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri14°8°1%Friday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Sat15°7°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun15°7°0%Sunday: Clear. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 01:32 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Arches National Park
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Rules for Arches National Park, checked
- Timed-entry reservations are not required at Arches in 2026. Fiery Furnace hikes and Devils Garden Campground still need advance reservations.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Arches National Park
Entry rules, money and the park reservation picture
Read the guideUtah national parksZion, Bryce, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands by car
Read the guideMoabThe base town about 10 minutes from the gate
Read the guideZion National ParkThe loop's other big park, a long day away
Read the guideNational park fee for visitorsThe extra charge for non-US residents
Read the guideESTA explainedSort entry before booking flights
Read the guideArches National Park FAQ
Do I need timed entry for Arches in 2026?
No. The park dropped advance timed-entry reservations for 2026, so you enter during operating hours with an entrance pass. Fiery Furnace hikes and Devils Garden campsites still need reservations.
How long is the Delicate Arch hike?
About 5 km (3 miles) round trip, with a steep slickrock section near the top and no shade. Allow 2 to 3 hours, and go at sunrise or late afternoon in summer.
How many days do you need at Arches?
One day covers the Windows, Delicate Arch and Devils Garden. A second day leaves room for Fiery Furnace, softer morning light and a Canyonlands detour.
Is Arches worth visiting in summer?
Only with dawn starts. Moab afternoons regularly reach the mid-30s Celsius or higher, so hike early and rest in town at midday. Spring and fall are far more comfortable.
Where should I stay for Arches?
Moab, about 10 minutes from the entrance, has the most rooms and restaurants. Book ahead for April, May, September and October.